The Effect of Hyperbaric Therapy on Brown Adipose Tissue in Rats

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) plays an important role in thermogenic regulation, which contributes to alleviating diet-induced obesity through uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) expression. While cold exposure and physical exercise are known to increase BAT development and UCP1 expression, the contribution of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy to BAT maturation remains largely unknown. Here, we show that HBO treatment sufficiently increases BAT volumes and thermogenic protein levels in Sprague-Dawley rats. Through ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT analysis, we found that exposure to high-pressure oxygen (1.5-2.5 ATA) for 7 consecutive days increased radiolabeled glucose uptake and BAT development to an extent comparable to cold exposure. Consistent with BAT maturation, thermogenic protein levels, such as those of UCP1 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α), were largely increased by HBO treatment. Taken together, we suggest HBO therapy as a novel method of inducing BAT development, considering its therapeutic potential for the treatment of metabolic disorders.